Battery or starter?

[BOWTECH.JUSTICE]

Have a 1992 4.3 mercruiser. Runs nice and would start right up. After motor gets warm I had to crank and crank and crank for it to start and most times battery would run down while doing so. Battery seemed as if it needed changed anyways, so I just put a new and bigger one with more cranking amps. So now when I need to keep cranking it will turn over a couple times and then seem to spin out. Also, a couple weeks back I noticed that there is a clicking sound as I'm turning it over. Does it have anything to do with the battery or is it just a funny coincidence that the starter could start going bad at the same time.

 

[Another retired guy]

Re: Battery or starter?

Hi. I think you should investigate why the engine doesn't start when hot before throwing more money at the battery and starter! The excessive cranking is damaging both of them
Sounds like fuel mix is too rich. Is this a carb? first thing to check would be choke operation - then the carb adjustments.

 

[BOWTECH.JUSTICE]

Re: Battery or starter?

Yes this is a carb. I guess I made it sound as if it really struggles to start when hot. It doesn't take off right away but I'll say I would crank for maybe 5 to 10 seconds and at full throttle. I have just assumed that is the norm for most I/O's when they are hot. I also don't know where the clicking came from all of a sudden either.

 

[achris]

Re: Battery or starter?

First thing that should be in your post is the engine serial number. From that we can work out what carb you have and advise accordingly.

Chris...

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Battery or starter?

Couple of things you might want to do: When hot, remove the flame arrestor and take a look to see that the choke is all the way open. Second: Try starting the engine with the throttle in different positions. Took me a long time to figure mine out. For example If I try to start with the control at WOT it takes 5-10 sec. of cranking but at 1/3 throttle it starts right away. Every boat is a little different, see if you can learn the best way to start yours.

 

[achris]

Re: Battery or starter?

Guys, without knowing WHICH carb he has, we're just guessing. That was the year the Weber started and the Rochester finished. If he has the Weber, this is a known problem that nobody has been able to fix.

So without the serial number we don't even know if it's a 2 bbl or a 4bbl carb. Any suggestions without all the facts is just speculation.... (and I thought that was something we tried to avoid at iBoats forums.)

OP... Please may we have the serial number of your engine....

Chris.......

 

[BOWTECH.JUSTICE]

Re: Battery or starter?

Wow. Sorry I didn't give enough info. I'll get it sometime soon.

 

[BOWTECH.JUSTICE]

Re: Battery or starter?

Ok, I'm not sure where to get the serial # but one I came up with is J1171. Does that help at all? This motor is in a 92 celebrity and the carb is 2bbl. Regardless of why it doesn't take right off when warm, what would cause the cutting out of the starter? Thanks guys.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Battery or starter?

Ok, I'm not sure where to get the serial # but one I came up with is J1171. Does that help at all? This motor is in a 92 celebrity and the carb is 2bbl. Regardless of why it doesn't take right off when warm, what would cause the cutting out of the starter? Thanks guys.

Nope,... That just says whatever electrical component ya saw that on is compliant,...

The serial number is stamped into an aluminum tag riveted to the block down low, back by the starter, either just above it, or just aft of it,...

The starter could be dyin', or maybe it's wirin' is just corroded, 'n dirty,...

 

[slothman]

Re: Battery or starter?

well your battery is new, so we can pretty much rule that out- but make sure the connections are nice and tight, and corrosion free.
Next I would be checking the spark. Pull a spark plug out and leave the wire connected. Then ground the spark plug to a solid piece of metal. Do it when it's somewhat dark outside so you can see her sparking. If you see her sparking good, then you know the issue is fuel.

 

[spdracr39]

Re: Battery or starter?

Could be a timing issue. To much advance causing it to kick back and disengage the starter bendix.

 

[BOWTECH.JUSTICE]

Re: Battery or starter?

Well, had the boat out this weekend and Ill let you all know what I had. Still don't have the serial # but I tried different ways to start it while warm and full throttle seems to be the best and crank it till it starts. That will work fine if the starter doesn't spin out, which it does pretty much every time now. My carb may need some adjusting as I get some heavy fumes when running in no wake zone but I don't feel it's all that bad though. I'm just worried about the starter giving up on me when I'm in the middle of the lake. Is it the safest bet to break down and change it? I also found another issue but I'll start a new thread for those though.

 

[BOWTECH.JUSTICE]

Re: Battery or starter?

I had recently changed a toggle switch on the dash, could it be possible that a wire in there didn't go where it should have that could affect that?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Battery or starter?

Well, had the boat out this weekend and Ill let you all know what I had. Still don't have the serial # but I tried different ways to start it while warm and full throttle seems to be the best and crank it till it starts. That will work fine if the starter doesn't spin out, which it does pretty much every time now. My carb may need some adjusting as I get some heavy fumes when running in no wake zone but I don't feel it's all that bad though. I'm just worried about the starter giving up on me when I'm in the middle of the lake. Is it the safest bet to break down and change it? I also found another issue but I'll start a new thread for those though.

Ayuh,.... Yer Carb is leakin',... Fix it,...

The hard startin', because of the carb, is killin' yer starter,....

Just changin' the starter, will just kill the new 1,...